March 23, 2011 -- When Sahil Sheikh of Stamford submitted a number of non-winning CT Lottery “$1,000,000 Silver & Gold” instant tickets for the game’s 2nd Chance drawing, he didn’t think twice about the name he would use on each of the entries. “I put them in my mother’s name. We all think she’s a lucky person…a lucky charm for our family,” said Sahil.

But, when Salma, his mother, was randomly selected as the 2nd Chance drawing’s $50,000 top prize winner on February 24, 2011, Sahil was completely shocked nonetheless. “I couldn’t believe it at first,” Sahil told lottery officials.

The $1,000,000 Silver & Gold instant game offers two ways to win a prize—scratch and win up to $1,000,000 instantly on the game ticket, or by entering non-winning tickets into the game's four 2nd Chance drawings.

Of the 322,440 entries received (online, by mail and hand delivery) for the game’s 2nd Chance drawing held on February 24, it was “lucky” Salma Sheikh’s entry that was randomly selected as that drawing’s $50,000 top prize winner. In addition to Salma, 10 entrants won prizes worth $500 each, and 30 others won prizes worth $200 each.

Salma and son, Sahil, arrived at CT Lottery headquarters in Rocky Hill recently to claim her check for $34,253 (the prize value after taxes). Salma plans to share the prize money with her family.

Odds of winning a prize in the $1,000,000 Silver & Gold 2nd Chance drawing vary based on the total number of eligible entries received.

Of the instant game’s four $1,000,000 top prizes (paid as a 20-year annuity or lump sum equivalent), one has been claimed by Janelle Davis of Waterbury on October 5, 2010. Three more $1,000,000 top prizes remain to be claimed. The overall chances of winning a prize in the $10 instant game $1,000,000 Silver & Gold are 1 in 3.37.